Once again, Sandra is opening the batting:
Well it is Thursday morning at Grafton CL and we awake to reasonably good weather and spirits rose as to the possibility of breaking camp and moving on to CL number 3 in the Forest of Dean. Brookside CL, Nr Newland in Gloucestershire. It is an area I have not stayed in or properly visited before, except as a small child being driven through here before the days of the M5 and aiming for the Severn Crossing Bridge. I have visited Symonds Yat, just north of where we are staying a couple of times but that is not like the area we are staying in now.
Anyway, back to the story … breakfast consumed and canopy etc was soon down and bundled, relatively dry, into Hetty – girls walked and cars loaded up, hitch up time and we were off. Admittedly, the drive was not a lengthy one – around half an hour, but our sightseeing was to take us more south of here, so an hours driving time would be saved.
I find the pack up is quicker when site hopping. No Krypton Factor’esque challenge trying to get the canopy into the bag, ditto the groundsheet – they just get loose folded and chucked in the back of the car. And it doesn’t matter too much if they are wet as they are coming back out again.
Sandra:
We set off, Sat Navs primed, watches synced and we were off down the A49 once more. All good, road was relatively clear – me as escort vehicle in front in case of any issues. Well ……. that worked up until the A40 turning – to see Richard and Patsy peel off at a junction I had just passed – annoying wasn’t the word. In my defence, the signpost was 80% obliterated by overhanging trees and I hadn’t realised on reading the map that I needed to go over the A40. Anyway a quick communication and I set off, post haste, to do a 5 mile detour, hoping that Richard had found a suitable layby to await my return!! I was soon back on the right route and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Patsy in the distance parked up. We started off again and this time we managed to reach Monmouth without incident. Note to anyone travelling down the A40 – Monmouth is one big bottleneck for traffic!
As directed by Sat Nav and NOT the site directions, we turned off over the River Wye. Well, I will leave Richard to fill in that bit – most of you will have seen the clip on Twitter by now!!
The site only gave directions to the site from the little town of
Coleford. I couldn’t see the point of towing through a town unnecessarily and so
checked out what Google Maps had to say. I even Street Viewed it and it looked
ok – proof indeed as I was to discover that the camera DOES lie at times.
It was okay until we turned off the A road, then the roads got narrower, with plenty of blind bends and I was already berating myself for not following the recommended route. Then we came upon the village of Newland where the site is located. Parked cars created a chicane to test my skills to the limit in easing Patsy through unscathed. I’m at my most confident behind the wheel, but of the school minibus not towing precious Patsy and was very grateful that Sandra was ahead acting as escort in her Ecosport. I breathed an audible sigh of relief as we pulled up at the site.
Sandra:
We arrived at the CL and were very pleasantly surprised – it is a very large field for a CL, very well kept with good facilities neatly arranged in one corner. No showers or toilets but no matter and electric on PAYG cards – we knew this to be fair, so will be interesting to see how we get on. Set up was quick and straightforward – the layout inside the canopy having been settled on and working well for everyone. The sun came out and we had a pleasant hour or so sitting in the evening sunshine admiring the view of the valley from the valley floor.
I’d paid a brief visit to the area before – but it was 10 years ago and couldn’t recall much other than stopping at Tintern Abbey. It was only when I looked up the blog post I realised that we’d not only passed through the village, but we’d also stopped and had lunch at the pub too.
Having pitched up and been pleasantly surprised that there was still
life in the cordless drill I use to wind the legs – I’d forgotten to charge the
battery before leaving home – the next job was the usual legs down pic on
social media. Checking my networks’ covering of the area before leaving
Hereford suggested that I wouldn’t get a signal, so I’d delayed renewing the
data package for the onboard Wi-Fi system too. However I was chuffed to find a
usable signal. Hardly lightning quick but enough to stream a bit of telly which
is usually the most that I ask of it.
As Sandra mentioned, the leccy was metered so I’d switched the fridge
over to gas once the legs were down. It turned out there was a bit of credit
left though, so it was soon switched back. The site owner came over with an
electric card to get us going and I resisted the temptation to nip out every
five minutes to see how much we used!
Sandra:
Friday and sightseeing commenced – lovely hot showers, what a luxury, as I still remember vans with little more than a porta potti in them! The day promised to be dry and sunny with cloudy interludes – suits us just fine, too hot and it isn’t much fun. We knew we would be leaving later in the morning, so we perused the OS Map and settled on Tintern Abbey and then returning back to site via Monmouth itself. It is funny how memories work – I can definitely remember the bridge over the Wye but nothing else – and as for Tintern Abbey, I must have been driven past it but no recollection at all.
We duly arrived at the Abbey – what an amazing sight, so sad to see how hard they are having to fight to keep it something like it has been since the time of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Anyway, even though large areas are roped off for the safety of everyone due to possible masonry falling down on people’s heads, we could still see pretty much everything if from a distance. What was very interesting to read on one of the information plaques was that they are trying lime emitting microbes and self-healing concrete!! That will definitely require some further research but great to see it is at the cutting edge of archaeological technology. As a mega fan of Time Team in years gone past, that series of programs advanced the cause of archaeology, new equipment etc by decades – its effects still being felt today.
On completing the visit – plenty of seats to sit on and pretty much fully accessible and there are full facilities too – there is a lovely, quality shop and some lovely mementos to be had if you so wished. No café but there is a superb one just round the corner selling superb homemade cakes as well as the usual fayre. Hot drinks and cakes purchased, Richard kindly picked me up from outside the café and we made our way back towards Monmouth, by only a mile or so and we found a lovely spot overlooking the river Wye. It is fast flowing here and is actually tidal to slightly further upstream where there is a naturally formed stone weir. Our usual sandwiches and banana lunch consumed supplemented by coffee and cake whilst watching the river go by was very peaceful and relaxing. We had managed to pick up some interesting leaflets and would peruse them later.
A quick stop for photos at the bridge above and we made our way along the River Wye valley towards Monmouth. It is a beautiful drive in dense green valley and the river running alongside the road – plenty of sign’s warning of road liable to flooding in the winter. In historic times, it was clear that this vista would have looked far more industrial – there are remains of ironworks all over, quarries – some still in operation and miles of disused and lifted railway tracks – some the victim of Beeching Cuts – others much earlier when heavy industry declined in the 19th century.
We arrived at Monmouth – in some ways very similar to Bishops Castle we visited last week but bigger and busier. A few turns up and down the high street and we finally managed to find a parking space. We decided not to walk up the high street – many usual suspects and we had no need for anything, save some meat for evening meal, a Waitrose 20 yards from the car saw to that; a couple of charity shops – nothing doing there and we were done. We had already taken photos of the bridge at the beginning of the visit to the town. We then made our way back to site – this time using the proper directions and I have to say it is way better and definitely recommended!!
I remembered Monmouth from our visit 10 years ago – to the month – and noted in my blog post about finding some decent looking leather jeans in a charity shop, only to discover that their size – labelled as 34 inches, was anything but! This time, having paraded up and down in the car more than once looking for a parking space we decided we didn’t need to pound the pavement as well.
The lamb steaks from Waitrose were delicious. Given that we are on metered electric here, we’re cooking most stuff on gas now. Talking of gas, for all my determination to stick a finger or two up at Caldor for – in my opinion shafting the caravanning community after feeding off us like parasites for years - one of my Calor Lites ran out a while back and when up in Cheshire at the end of May I reluctantly replaced it with a standard 6kg one. I’m still pondering options on which direction to go – I really like the idea of Safefill but am struggling to justify the upfront cost given how relatively little gas I use. Mind you if more sites start metering electric it could well be a sound investment – particularly as I like to get away in the cooler months too. Like July and August at the moment!
That evening we went to the pub in the village – the one I went to 10 years ago – it was busy and, not having a car park the lane that I’d gingerly towed Patsy down a few days ago was now almost impassable. A pleasant evening was had though and, once again it was good to see a pub doing well – a great selection of real ales, from full bodied dark ones, through to bitters and pale ales aimed at the lager converts.
Saturday was as predicted, a wash out. The day was spent reading and snoozing, though we did emerge for a run to Coleford late afternoon to replenish the er, research samples amongst other things – and really just to get out for a bit. Much as I like ‘van days occasionally I do tend to find cabin fever sets in after a while. Sadly it wasn’t even warm enough to sit out under the canopy because, foolishly thinking it was summer I’d packed little in the way of long sleeve tops, never mind a long leather coat!
Sunday and the weather was much better. A pleasantly lazy morning passed and then we headed to The Woodman Inn at Parkend for a delicious Sunday lunch. Sandra was more than happy to drive so I forewent a pudding and had a second pint.
Afterwards we drove down to Lydney harbour to stretch ours and the girls’ legs, the rain holding off long enough for us to walk to the pier head for a great view of the Severn with the newer of the two bridges just visible in the distance. Once a bustling port it was now very quiet with just a few pleasure boats moored up.
Monday and a morning at the ‘van before heading back to Lydney via Parkend for a mooch around Forest of Dean caravans, however the wallet stayed firmly put. Not that I was looking, in fact seeing what was on display vindicated the recent expense on Patsy – nothing appealed. Just as well, looking at the prices.
We had our packed lunch in the car park of Lydney town hall – I pick all the best places – before heading inside to dispense some A+ having been able to get a last minute appointment.
Afterwards we had a run through some beautiful countryside to the Dean Heritage Centre. Dogs were not allowed in the museum itself – though they were in the gift shop and café. Kerching. We took it in turns to walk around and I learnt a lot about the area and was surprised how very industrialised it used to be.
Tuesday brought with it more of the wet stuff – in more ways than one as it turned out. A run into Ross-on-Wye first, to get a slow puncture sorted on Sandra’s car, then lunch by the river, some food shopping then a run cross country to the Weston cider farm. Tea – yes, tea – was quaffed in the café but purchases were made in the shop. Cider is not usually my thing, but when in Rome – or in this case Herefordshire – and all that. That night after dinner we headed into Coleford – to The Dog House micro pub. Dog friendly – obviously given the name – and a good selection of ales though thanks to some quite extensive er, research into the cider samples procured from Weston’s earlier, I only had the one.
Sandra:
Wednesday – well for a start it was somebody’s birthday! A list of activities had been planned. The day started off with the usual Buck’s Fizz to accompany breakfast – not cooked this year as time was an issue. Present and card opening completed and we were soon on our way to the first activity of the day – a ride on the Forest of Dean Railway. Personally, I was expecting something quite small scale perhaps verging towards a miniature railway style – I was totally wrong. It is a lovely stretch of full sized railway – from Parkend in the North to Lydney Harbour in the South – this is where it conveniently links up the current National Railway network. It was a gloriously sunny day – as befits a birthday and we spent 2 or more hours riding up and down the railway on a favourite DMU, (diesel multiple unit) and managed to bag seats right behind the driver for front row seat views. Cue a lovely grin on Richard’s face and major photo taking. People do, understandably pick steam trains as their choice – they are amazing living beasties but for sightseeing on the rail journey itself you cannot beat a diesel like we used.
It was a fab morning, the weather was kind and I should have been in shorts and t-shirt but made the effort, donning a shirt and tie and my skinny leather jeans. No waistcoat, not so much because of the heat but after over a month on the road the waistline has expanded somewhat and there’s only so far the back adjuster will go!
We watched the first steam train of the day depart then boarded our DMU for a very enjoyable ride the length of the track. Most folk had opted for the steam train so for large portions of the trip we had the carriage to ourselves. It was great to get a driver’s eye view, right at the front.
Sandra:
Following this we returned to the van for lunch – the next activity wasn’t due until 4.15pm in Symonds Yat – we needed to be there an hour before to have a quick look around and then on the Kingfisher Cruises boat up the river. I have done this trip a few times before but I always manage to learn something new. The flooding level after Storm Dennis had reached new heights and a higher line than before was now present on the pub wall. The villages resilience to flooding is a credit to them. 25 foot plus of water flooding down the river is an incredible force of nature and must have been a sight to behold. Opting to do the walk around after the boat trip and not before, we adjourned to outside the pub overlooking the River Wye for a cooling drink and managed to get a table with an umbrella pretty quickly so the girls were in the shade. This would probably be their 3rd visit and trip on the boat too.
Confession time again – I’d never heard of Symonds Yat or what it was, so my anticipation grew as we made the final descent – again in Sandra’s much smaller and more agile Ecosport. The road was extremely narrow but there was no sign of impatience when oncoming traffic met. Drivers just took it in turns to back up a bit or do whatever was required. I couldn’t help thinking of the selfish and impatient tools I encounter daily on my school bus run and wondered how they’d cope with have to show some consideration to others – and generally behave like decent human beings.
As for Symonds Yat, wow. It was stunning. I said at the time it was one of the most picturesque places I’d been to and that still stands.
We were early for the boat trip, the boarding point for which was by
the pub terrace. I parked my bot; Sandra went off and returned with a lovely
dark ale which went down a treat whilst we waited.
The boat trip was fantastic, the scenery wonderful and the captain knowledgeable and entertaining.
Sandra:
After the boat trip we had a gentle stroll the short distance to where the old railway station had once stood and the tunnel which was slightly higher up – now sadly redundant as a victim of Beeching cuts but once linked up with the Forest of Dean Railway and north to Ross on Wye and Monmouth to name but a few.
The evening meal had been booked – but on the wrong side of the River ☹. For those who may have visited before, it is quite easy to get the two sides mixed up and although there is an ancient rights rope pulled ferry to cross between the two, by car is a sizeable detour. However, all was not lost as on checking they had cancelled our booking anyway!! We adjourned to the Saracens Head – the preferred destination anyway and managed to get a lovely table under the verandah and a very pleasant evening meal etc was had.
Fish and chips for Sandra and I had a burger, which was very tasty indeed. My dessert was in the form of another pint.
We took the slightly longer but easier route back via the A40 and a snifter of Penderyn Welsh Whiskey before bed topped a fantastic day. I don’t like a lot of fuss for my birthday and today was just right. Thank you Sandra.
And that closes the innings on Part 5. Up next, the final proper stop of the trip, in North Devon.
Cheers & Beers
Rich